Touring the land of Egypt is often an extension of Israel Egypt tours. This is because so many of the stories from the Bible include the land of Egypt. Egypt is the birthplace of an ancient civilization that holds Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Egypt was also the birthplace of Moses and where the ten plagues were demonstrated when Pharoah would not let the Israelites leave the country. It was then that the Israelites fled from Egypt and entered the Promised Land after forty years of wandering in the desert. A trip to the land of Egypt will include the pyramids, temples and other amazing pieces of beauty in the Land of the Pharoahs.

Let’s talk about why Egypt is now one of the most popular countries on the planet with second home buyers and property investors alike.

Excellent Climate All Year Round
Everyone likes good weather right? Well as Egypt is sunny all year round I’d say this must be one of the reasons behind its mass appeal!

Egypt is situated in a sub-tropical region with a warm and dry climate, long hot summers and mild winters where the temperature rarely falls below 40F, meaning all year long rental potential.

Economic Growth And Stability
Of course the strength of a countries economy will most likely have an effect on possible investment property potential.

Tourism remains and will probably always be a major part of the Egyptian economy, employing more than a tenth of the population and bringing foreign revenues into the country. The sector is one of the largest contributors to Egypt’s economy, with the World Travel and Tourism Council stating that it generates $18.2 billion, which works out to be around 16.3% of GDP.

The Ministry of Tourism reported that foreign visitors totalled around 12.8 million in 2008, up a strong 15% year-on-year.
It is forecast that Egypt will receive in excess of 17million tourists every year by the end of the decade.

The Sinai Peninsula is one of the most popular destinations with visitors from across Europe, the US and the Middle East. With such a high amount of foreign visitors the demand for accommodation is also very strong so therefore the potential for property investment is also strong.

So where is the most attractive place to buy an Egypt property?

Well you might probably have guessed by now that we are confident that Sharm el Sheik which is situated on the Sinai Peninsula, is one of the most popular places to buy Egypt property.

Sharm is now a well-established resort with a wealth of attractions that appeal to a large range of people. It is extremely popular with divers and water sport enthusiasts as the Red Sea has some of the world’s most attractive coral reefs and under water gardens with crystal clear waters and 1000s of species of fish.

Summary
Add these points to the fact that luxury property in Sharm El Sheikh is very affordable compared to other warm tropical destinations and the fact that property investors are benefitting from both high year on year capital growth as well as strong consistent rental income then it simple to see why Sharm el Sheikh is one of the most desirable second property and investment destinations in the world.

Despite the global downturn, it seems that Egypt remains one of the most sought-after vacation destinations with a 13% rise in the amount of British visitors according to up-to-date data from the ONS’s International Passenger Survey.

Comparing British passenger numbers to the same time last year, the UK Office for National Statistics identified substantial growth in the number of all-inclusive holidays to Egypt booked by Britons.

The Red Sea resorts of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada remained popular but according to leading holiday rental site, HomeAway Holiday-Rentals, it is the area just north of Hurghada, El Gouna, which is thriving as the Egypt holiday hotspot with a 92% rise in booking enquiries so far this year compared to the same time in 2009.

Steven Worboys, MD of Egypt property agents, Experience International, commented,

“El Gouna is a beautiful, up and coming Red Sea coast resort providing an unrivalled lifestyle. With 10km of golden sandy beaches, islands, crystal clear lagoons and yearlong sunshine, it really is a superb holiday location.”

El Gouna’s attractiveness as an exclusive tourism resort is shown in the large demand for El Gouna property rentals. According to HomeAway Holiday-Rentals data, the average weekly rate for a 2 bedroom property in El Gouna is £480, considerably higher than neighbouring Hurghada at £270 and Sharm el Sheikh at £280, this should be welcoming news for El Gouna property owners.

The Ancient Sands Golf Resort is one of the attractive developmets in El Gouna due to its premium location and 2 year rental guarantee. Situated around an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Karl Litten the large sized luxury homes of Ancient sands provide amazing views of the clear water lagoons, Mountains and golf course.

Watch the quick presentation of Ancient Sands here.

Exteremely popular, buildings 1 and 2 are sold out already but studio units are still available in building 5 starting at £117,000. There are a wealth of facilities on-site including restaurants, bars, swimming pool and spa center, tennis academy, childrens play area and a Quintessentially conciergeservice.

For more information about investing in the Egyptian holiday hotspot of El Gouna please ask the experts at Experience International call +44 (0) 207 321 5858 or visit Experience-international.com.

Ancient Egypt mummies are interesting topic. The mummies are extremely well preserved and show us a part of history. Why did the Egyptians use mummification, and how do the bodies stay so preserved?

Mummification was performed because the Egyptians believed that the soul had three separate parts. If any of these three parts died or was left without the others then all three of the parts would die.

Ancient Egypt mummies were created with the intent of keeping the soul of the individual together for the afterlife. The process of mummification took a lot of time and effort. But it was done so the body would not decay in the afterlife.

Ancient Egypt Mummies And Animals

Ancient Egypt mummies were not just for humans. Certain time periods in ancient Egyptian, it was common to mummify cats. It is also believed that other animals may have also been preserved this way.

Cats were mummified because they were sacred to the ancient Egyptians, and it was believed this process kept the soul alive in the next life.

Priests and Mummification

Only priests were allowed to create ancient Egypt mummies. Specific methods were closely followed during the mummification process.

Mummification priests were highly trained, and the ritual aspects of the process were just as important as the surgical techniques used at the time.

Priests were not allowed to create mummies in the town temples. Instead this ritual process had to be performed at a Wabet, which was a very clean location situated away from the population and outside of the town.

Anubis And Ancient Egypt Mummies

Anubis was the patron god for surgeons and healers, and during the process of mummification a mask of Anubis was worn by the head priest. The
Egyptians believed that Anubis would guide the priests not only in the ritual but also the surgical part of the mummification. It was important that the priest made the proper cuts to start the mummification process. Precision and a high degree of skill were required, because the Egyptians believed if the body was scarred or damaged, the soul would not recognize it.

And if this was ever to happen, the soul would be forced to wander forever.

The Mummification Process

In ancient Egypt, mummies were created in a series of steps. Cutting into the left section of the abdomen where the ribs are, was the first part of the ritual. A special ritual knife was used to make this first incision, but all the remaining cuts were done using a regular knife. The organs were than removed from the abdomen and placed in special pottery called canopic jars. The containers were inscribed with spells and symbols to help the organs join back with the body. The only organs preserved were lungs, liver, intestine, and the stomach.

Preserving Ancient Egypt Mummies

Ancient Egypt mummies were preserved almost perfectly each time.
The process started with the brain, which was taken out through the nose of the individual and then discarded.

A funnel was used to guide resin through the nostrils after the brain was removed, to preserve the head shape and prevent any collapse.
All of the body parts were kept, and either preserved to stay with the body or given away to family.

Ancient Egypt Mummies Kept Their Heart

The hearts of the ancient Egypt mummies were never removed. The Egyptians believed that the heart was needed for Anubis to weigh in the underworld.

The heart needed to be weighed because it helped guide the soul of the ancient Egyptian mummy.

Other Steps that Ancient Egypt Mummies Went Through

During the final steps of the mummification process, spices and natron salt were used to dry out the body and organs.

A mixture of these ingredients were packed into the body and rubbed into the skin.
Ancient Egypt mummies took time to make, the entire process took about two and a half months to complete.

Over time the body would dry into leather without decaying, and the priests would continue to rub the spices and salt all over the skin.

Wrappings For Ancient Egypt Mummies

Once the mummification ritual and process was complete, the preserved individual was completely wrapped up.
Linen was the cloth of choice; the quality of the linen would depend on the status of the individual.

Every ancient Egyptian mummy was given a death mask, as a second head in case the original was damaged.
The wrappings of the mummies would also include amulets which were believed to be powerful.

Ancient Egypt Mummy Tags

Each mummy created in ancient Egypt was given a tag.
The tag was used as an identification necklace. This ensured the the ancient Egypt mummies could be identified and properly entombed.

To find out more about ancient Egypt - the life and culture, check out Ancient Egypt.

Ancient Egyptian art dates back five thousand years ago. This art was created by the Egyptians to show the history and story of the ancient Egyptians. The most popular forms of art are in the shapes of gods and pharaohs. One of the strategies the Egyptians used in their art was to increase the figure size based on how important the diety was.

Gods which were more important than other gods and goddesses were shown larger. Along with art portraying the pharaohs as larger than all the other elements in the piece.

Religion played a key role in the creation of Egyptian art. Much of the pieces out there were inspired by a god or goddess.

Pharaohs were also considered to be god-like or divine so they were common in Egyptian artwork.

Ancient Egyptian Art Time Periods

There are several time periods that are relevant concerning Egyptian art.

The Protodynastic period started around the year 3300 BC, and this Egyptian art period ended in 26990 BC.

The Predynastic period of Egyptian art also covers the time before the first Egyptian dynasty, and lasted up until 2680 BC. After this is the Old Kingdom period, which started in 2680 BC and lasted until 2258 BC.

Egyptian art from the Middle Kingdom period dates back to between 2134 BC and 1786 BC.

The New Kingdom time period started in 1570 BC and then ended in 1085 BC, and the Amarna period started in 1350 BC and was prevalent for thirty years until the year 1320 BC.

Ancient Egyptian art from the Ptolemaic period dates back to 332 BC and the year 30 BC.

Art from each of these time periods differ from what is found in other time periods. Some experts can even date a piece of art simply by examining it closely, and evaluating the style and characteristics used in the creation of the Egyptian art.

The Styles, Symbolism, And Characteristics Of Egyptian Art

Egyptian art was created following strict rules concerning forms and the three dimensional representations of these.

The elements of nature and life were depicted on the art exactly as these were seen by the artist. The ancient Egyptians preferred art that was complete down to the smallest detail, instead of creating works that were intended to be merely beautiful or highly cosmetic.

The lines of the artwork are very elementary, clear, and cleanly done. Egyptian art also combines simple depictions of shapes and colored areas which are flat and stand out.

The size of the characters carried importance due to the larger figures being more superior to the smaller ones in this art.

Colors were used to symbolize specific meanings.

Green and blue were used to show life and the Nile River, the source of life for the ancient Egyptians. Red was used in ancient Egyptian art to show vitality, power, and strength.

Yellow was used to honor or represent the sun god. Animals were also important and were very popular in ancient Egyptian art.

Due to the dry air of Egypt much of what has been recovered in Egyptian art has been in excellent condition. The colors and pictures still bright and visible today after thousands of years.

Ancient Egyptian Art Forms

There are many different forms used in Egyptian art. Papyrus was a popular one that was used. Papyrus is also one of the earliest forms of paper used by the Egyptians.

Almost all aspects of the Egyptian society can be found written on papyrus texts.

Pottery was another form used in Egyptian art. Many burial chambers have housed numerous pieces of pottery for the afterlife.

Sculpture was another art form practiced in ancient Egypt. Many art pieces from this time have hieroglyphics included on them. Hieroglyphic writing is a highly collected art for Egyptian collectors.

Paintings, literature, and funerary art were also popular forms of ancient Egyptian art.

Ancient Egyptian Art Today

Egyptian art is incorporated into most cultures. You can travel to popular furniture stores and find a few pieces, or another niche hobby stores. Flea markets are also places to check to find unique pieces.

But, if you’re looking for something specific and don’t have the funds to travel to Egypt, shopping online is a great alternative.

To find out more check out Ancient Egyptian Art. Or visit my website about Ancient Egypt.

Egypt may indeed border the Mediterranean Sea, Ministers remain confident that the debt problems which has affected other nearby European tourism destinations like as Greece has not negatively impacted the Egyptian economy.

Talking to Reuters, Egypt’s Tourism Minister, Zoheir Garrana, revealed that tourism revenues rose by 17.6% to $5.58 billion in the first half of 2010 with the aim ofincreasing to £13 billion by fiscal year end.

Commenting on these latest figures, Steven Worboys, MD of the Egypt property experts Experience International, stated …

“The previous 12 months has definitely been a more difficult time for Europe. The effect of the global recession has been felt in many countries including Italy, Portugal,Greece and Spain whose economies rely heavily on tourism.

“Holidaymakers are now seeking the best deals available, often looking further afield than usual to non euro zone countries like as Egypt where can get more for their money. It’s very encouraging to see that tourism revenues are up and that the sector is accounting for 11% of GDP equivalent to 1 in every 8 jobs according to Ministry figures.”

Visitor arrivals to Egypt continue to increase with in excess of 7 million visitorsso far in 2010 and 15 millions expected in total by December. The majority of tourists come from The UK, Germany, France, Italy and Russia with the Russia showing a 95% rise in Q1 2010.

Such sustained growth is fueling further demand for good property in the tourism hot spots in Egypt. Rich in history, culture and natural attractions, Egypt affords an excellent range of attractions with the Red Sea coast especially popular with individuals, couples and families alike.

So it’s simple to see why property in Egypt is an excellent investment delivering great financial returns in terms of rental income and capital growth.

Established Sharm el Sheikh property such as the new Monna Sharm development are still very affordable and start from only £23,400 for a studio apartment with swimming pool views and communal roof terrace whilst freehold property such as the studio, 1 and 2 bed apartments at Royal Beach can be purchased in the up and coming resort of Hurghada at great value prices.

For additional information about buying property in Egypt then contact the experts at Experience International on + 44 (0) 207 321 5858 or go to Experience-International.com.

A desert oasis is generally a lush, water-rich area in the middle of the desert. It can be something as simple as a small pond filled with water after a rain, to a cavern into which water constantly flows such as is found at Montezuma’s Well in Arizona. Over the years they have been used by travelers to refresh themselves, as well as by story tellers to provide comic relief or a sinister turn in a tale when a hallucination leads to ruin.

Desert Oasis

Speaking of Montezuma’s Well, this desert oasis was first brought into the public attention in 1878 in a Handbook to Arizona written by Richard J Hinton. However, someone else wrote about it a long time before that. In 1583 a Spaniard named Antonio de Espejo wrote of ditch running from a pond to an abandoned pueblo. Some people believe this described Montezuma’s Well. The well is a sinkhole into a cavern where over a million gallons of water flows each day. The source of all this water is unknown.

Oases have lent their name to other places where people rest. The Desert Oasis RV Park and Sand Dune Resort is one of these. It opens for five months a year beginning in May. It has 72 campsites and miles and miles of sand dunes where people dune ride, snowmobile in the winter and explore the many caves found near the property.

The caves near the Desert Oasis RV Park have a remarkable origin. They are tubes formed from cooling lava. They snake underground for miles and miles, going wherever the lava was able to flow. A little known fact is that lava is a great insulator. So these caves are cool even on the hottest summer days. Take a sweater if you visit.

Oasis is also a popular name for hotels. One of these is in Scottsdale, Arizona – the Sheraton Desert Oasis. It’s located in the Sonoran Desert which provides a beautiful backdrop for the hotel. It’s hardly bereft of life. There are activities such as rodeos and horse shows nearby, as well as art galleries and museums. And of course there’s the desert to explore. Don’t forget to drink when you visit the desert.

Desert Oasis

A desert oasis can be a life saver for someone traveling under the hot sun and over the hot sands. It can also be a hotel, park, or rest stop in the modern world.

Sharm El-Sheikh situated on the Red Sea coast has become one of the most popular vacation property locations in the world attracting one million plus visitors annually due to the appealing mix of year round hot and sunny climate, beautiful beaches and world class diving. Sharm el Sheikh property is also very affordable, with entry level at around twenty thousand pounds.

The privileged location of Sharm el Sheikh on the Peninsula of Sinai has always been an important location as some say that the location is the meeting point between Asia and Africa and the cradle of great civilizations.

Sharm el Sheikh has a wealth of history and culture and nowadays also provides all the luxury and qualities of a world class touristic destination. A place where people from all over the planet come and experience a variety of pleasures and leisure activities including of course sun, sea, and sand as well as luxury living and first class lifestyle experiences.

Watch this introduction to Sharm video to see for yourself

Sharm El Sheikh has emerged from a little fishing village on the Egyptian Red Sea into one of the top 10 resorts on the planet.

Investment Motivators

High quality build to European standards
Own outright from as little as £20K
No restriction for foreign buyers
Hassle-free investment
No inheritance or capital gains tax
99 year renewable leasehold
Flexible payment terms
Year round rental demand
High capital growth
Furniture packages available
Inspection visits

In summary Sharm el Sheikh provides an exciting and desirable option for many Egypt property investors.

Apartments in Sharm el Sheikh are very popular as the location benefits from year long sunshine and receives a year on year growing influx of tourists it is very common for property investors to benefit from year round rental income when they are not using [spin]the properties themselves.

Contact Experience International to ask about the latest developments + 44 (0) 207 321 5858

The popular holiday destination of Egypt is going against the lowering global tourism trend by recording a 29% increase in tourist arrivals and 24% increase in tourism revenue in Q1 2010.

In stark contrast to the overall state of the global tourist industry which is struggling to bounce back from “one of the most difficult years” (2009, WTO) and currently suffering another blow from the Icelandic volcano crisis, estimating to be costing airlines up to $400 million each day (International Air Transport Association), the north African nation looks like it is getting stronger and stronger.

It cannot be said that Egypt was totally unaffected by the economic slump of the last 12 months but with 3.46 million tourists arriving between January and March 2010 generating a $2.7 billion revenue, Egypt “completely rebounded” according to Tourism Minister, Zoheir Garranah.

Tourism plays an increasingly important part in the Egyptian economy, currently growing at an impressive 5.1%, accounting for more than 12% of jobs and generating $10.76 billion in 2009 according to the Tourism Ministry. The traditional historical and cultural attractions such as the Pyramids of Giza and Luxor remain highly popular but also getting very popular is the Red Sea coast is attracting millions every year to its white sandy beaches and clear warm waters and reliable sunshine.

Steven Worboys, MD of Egypt property experts Experience International, with over 5000 properties along the Red Sea, commented:

“Egypt remains one of the most sought-after holiday and second home locations in the world attracting over 1 millions people from the UK each year. The mix of easy, cheap and quick access from the UK, value for money property prices and a reliable climate has ensured that Egypt and the Red Sea coast in particular almost irresistible.”

One particular property for sale in Egypt which is seeing increased interest also thanks to its exclusive SIPP eligibility is the Samra Bay Marina & Spa Resort marketed through Experience International. Affording a true frontline location on the “Golden Mile” of Hurghada, these luxurious studio and 1 bedroom apartments are available from as little as 59,300 Euros, provide a guaranteed return for a minimum of 8 years and are definitely worthy of consideration in 2010.

Forecasts for the rest of 2010 are positive with a minimum 5% economic growth expected and a target of increasing tourism receipts to $11.5 billion. Acknowledging the importance of investment the Egyptian government also plans to increase spending by 11.2 billion Egyptian pounds ($2 billion) to support the economy, with the majority of the money going into infrastructure projects.

For more information about buying in the thriving tourism hotspot of Egypt contact the experts at Experience International on + 44 (0) 207 321 5858 or visit experience-international.com.